White Paper on SMEs is roadmap for survival and evolution of Romanian economy (IMM Romania's Jianu)
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are going through a period of transformation, characterized by tensions between the professional maturation process and a high level of uncertainty among entrepreneurs, shows the White Paper on SMEs, a comprehensiv. . .
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are going through a period of transformation, characterized by tensions between the professional maturation process and a high level of uncertainty among entrepreneurs, shows the White Paper on SMEs, a comprehensive research of local small and medium-sized companies, launched on Wednesday, during an event organized by IMM [SME] Romania. "The 2026 White Paper is not just a simple X-ray of the numbers, but a roadmap for the survival and evolution of the Romanian economy at a turning point in Europe. We are at a point where the rules of the game are being rewritten, from the redefinition of industrial policies in Brussels to the daily pressure of inflation and labor shortages at home. Faced with these realities, we can no longer afford one-off strategies or a business environment left to struggle on its own. Romania's success in the next decade will depend decisively on our ability to transform the native resilience of entrepreneurs into global competitiveness, through fiscal predictability, real digitalization and close collaboration between the state and the private sector. This work is a wake-up call, but also a dialogue partner: it is the starting point for the reconstruction of an ecosystem in which the new generation of local businesses should no longer run on failure mode, but innovate and lead," said Florin Jianu, president of IMM Romania, agerpres reports. The research shows that, in 2026, Romanian business people are most often completely alone in the face of a hostile economic climate, and in these conditions long-term business plans have become almost non-existent, the cited source shows. Employment data shows a deterioration in the dynamics of employment in the SME sector. In 2026, the average number of employees was 3. 15 employees/SME, while departures reached 3. 25 employees/SME, resulting in a net negative increase of -0. 10 employees/SME. Compared to previous years, when the net increase was positive (1. 89 in 2024 and 1. 91 in 2025), the current data marks a change in trend and indicates the increasing difficulties encountered by SMEs in attracting and retaining the workforce, as well as the prudence of companies in terms of expanding their staff. Despite the pressures on the labor market, salary policies in 2025 remained prudent, with incomes being maintained at the same level in almost half of the companies, while salary increases were generally moderate, falling below the 10% threshold. To counter the staff shortage and increase team loyalty, entrepreneurs turned to internal reward systems, extra-salary benefits and promotion opportunities, with working from home remaining a secondary option. For the future, the overwhelming majority of companies intend to maintain their current fringe benefit packages.